Cigarette holder assembly



Aug. 2, 1966 .J. J. DORRANCE CIGARETTE HOLDER ASSEMBLY Filed Jan. 22, 1964 INVENTOR. Jasep/zd. Dana/we United States Patent 3,263,691 CIGARETTE HOLDER ASSEMBLY Joseph J. Dorrauce, 4251 Irving Park Road, Chicago, Ill. Filed Jan. 22, 1964, Ser. No. 341,476 10 Claims. (Cl. 131-257) This application is a continuation-in-part of my abandoned application Serial No. 231,091, filed October 17, 1962.

This invention relates to improvements in cigarette holder assemblies which may, if desired, be used in conjunction with ash tray structures.

Typical ash trays having cigarette holding means thereon are troublesome to keep clean. When a cigarette is laid on these devices and left there for some time, the receptacle not only accumulates stains from the ashes but also stains'from the tars evolved from the tobacco, and these stains are particularly troublesome to clean off, especially from metallic surfaces.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved cigarette receptacle in which the cleaning problem is minimized.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved cigarette holder assembly with a removable liner which can be readily replaced when stained from contact with cigarettes.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a cigarette holder assembly which is economical to manufacture and very simple to assemble.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved removable liner for cigarette holders adapted to be packaged in knock-down flat condition and to be folded up and slidably inserted wit-h a holder support and to maintain a positive interengagement against unintentional displacement by an improved frictional interengagement resulting from resilientthrust of the liner against the holder structure.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of an ash tray embodying a cigarette holder assembly of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of the structure of FIGURE 1, partly in cross-section;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view in elevation of the device taken on a plane 90 from that of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the liner of the assembly in its unfolded condition; and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional detail view through the holder taken substantially on the line VV of FIGURE 2.

In FIGURE 1, an ash tray which may be of any desired configuration, but which is shown as circular in this instance, is adapted to have one or more of the improved cigarette holder assemblies of the present invention mounted thereon. A peripheral upstanding flange or lip 11 defines the perimeter of the ash tray 10 and a pedestal 12 rises from the bottom of the tray, in this instance from the center.

Secured to the top of the pedestal 12 in any preferred manner such as by spot riveting, lock flanging, welding, brazing, adhesive, and the like, is a holder bracket 13 which comprises an elongated base portion 14 opposing the top of the pedestal, and upstanding converging side Wall flange portions 16 and 17. Thus, the holder bracket defines with the base 14 and the side walls 16 and 17 a generally dovetail cross-section open ended channel. As shown, the base portion is of a length substantially the same as the width of at least the top of the pedestal 12. In any event, the holder is of sufficient length to afford adequate support for a cigarette C.

It will also be observed that the side walls 16 and 17 are of an arched, herein convex, edge, lip-like flange formation with the central portions of the wall flanges in closest proximity and of maximum length. From their maximum length portions, the wall flanges 16 and 17 taper to less width toward each opposite side. By preference, the holder bracket 13 is of relatively rigid or at least self-sustaining construction and may be made as a sheet metal stamping or as a metal molding or die casting; although a suitable molded or otherwise formed synthetic, fire resistant plastic material may be utilized.

As will be observed in FIGURE 3, the tip edges of the holder side wall flange portions 16 and 17 are spaced apart to receive the cigarette C freely therebetween, resting over the flat base portion 14 of the holder channel and with the maximum width edge portions of the overhanging walls 16 and 17 affording minimum contact points of opposition to the cigarette to prevent it from rolling from the base 14, while the length of the base is ample to prevent the cigarette from rocking off of the holder. For this purpose, the height of the side wall flanges 16 and 17 at their maximum length is substantially less than the, diameter of the cigarette, in this instance rising to about half the diameter of the cigarette from the base 14. By virtue of the arched edge shape of the holder side wall flanges 16 and 17 affording substantially only point opposition to the cigarette C in any possible position of the cigarette between the side wall flanges, possibility of damaging the cigarette paper while placing the cigarette on the holder or removing it from the holder is greatly minimized.

In order to minimize the cleaning problem and to improve the safety of the holder against damaging cigarettes supported thereon, especially where the holder bracket 13 is made of a thin sheet metal stamping, a replaceable liner 18 is provided. In a highly desirable form, this liner is made from a resiliently flexible material so that in assembly with the holder bracket 13 the liner will be substantially frictionally self-retaining and will not be accidentally displaced by drawing of the cigarette C thereagainst or become dislodged from the bracket when the holder is moved from place-to-place or otherwise handled.

For convenience in storage and handling, the liner 18 is desirably made as a generally flat panel blank (FIG. 4 and dash outline in FIG. 5) from resiliently flexible material such as cardboard, asbestos paper, synthetic plastic sheet material of an inherently fire resistant nature or which has been treated to render it fire retardant, and the like.

Longitudinally along each side of a base portion area 18a which is generally complementary to the area of the bracket base 14 but preferably slightly narrower (FIG. 5), the liner blank is provided with resilient hinging such as scoring or lines of weakness 19 and 20 which will enable side wall flanges 22 and 23, generally complementary in arched shape and length to the holder side walls 16 and 17 to be resiliently flexibly bent up from their spread apart relation (which prevents insertion into the holder channel) into substantially dovetail shape complementary to the dovetail shape of the channel within the bracket 13 (FIGS. 3 and 5). Thereby, the liner can he slipped into place within the bracket channel by a longitudinal assembly movement.

Upon release of the liner side Wall flange portions 22 and 23 from an opposed compressed clearance relation with respect to the holder channel, after the liner has been moved into fully nested engagement within the bracket channel, the side wall flange portions 22 and 23 expand and tend to return to the original flat shape. This effects a gripping outward thrusting frictional engagement of the liner flange portions 22 and 23 wit-h the opposing surfaces of the complementary side wall flanges 16 and 17 of the bracket 13. By virtue of the generally dovetail convergence of the bracket side wall portions 16 and 17 and thus generally divergent cam-like relation of the inner surfaces thereof engaged by the expansile liner wall flanges 22 and 23, a downwardly camming reaction develops on the liner wall flanges which causes them to thrust the integral base portion 18a firmly frictionally against the opposing bracket base portion 14. At least, the upward thrust of the liner flanges 22 and 23 (as they seek resiliently to return to their initial unbent condition) against the overlying bracket wall flanges 16 and 17 causes the downward thrust of the base portion 18a. Since the base portion 18a of the liner is in underlying relation to the side wall flanges 16 and 17 of the bracket 13 as best seen in FIGURES 3 and 5, it will not displace upwardly out of the bracket channel. Thus, the liner firmly resists unintentional displacement.

To facilitate not only insertion of the liner 18 into position by longitudinal sliding assembly movement into the channel in the bracket 13, but also to facilitate removal of the liner, it is provided with an extension tab portion 24 on at least one end of the base portion 18a. This tab extends beyond the adjacent sides of the side wall flanges 22 and 23 to be in projecting generally cantilever relation to the adjacent end of the bracket 13 in assembly as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. Although, as depicted in dash outline in FIGURE 2, the extension tab portion 24 may be a straight cigarette-supporting extension of the base 18a of the liner, it may be bent down along a score line 21 shown located at one end of the tab 24 in FIG. 4. If preferred, the score line may be located intermediate the ends of the tab 24 as indicated by the fold being shown intermediate the ends thereof in solid lines in FIG. 2. Through this arrangement, insertion of the liner 18 into the channel of the bracket 13 can be readily elfected by grasping the tab extension 24 as a handle, bending up the side wall portions 22 and 23 and sliding the liner into position until the side wall portions 22 and 23 substantially register with the complementary side Wall flange portions 16 and 17 of the bracket 13. When it is desired to remove the liner, a simple engagement of the tab 24 between the fingers and pullingly sliding the liner from within the bracket 13 accomplishes this.

By having the liner made of an absorbent material, tar stains are drawn into the body of the liner from cigarettes supported thereon. Further, the liner is preferably slightly longer overall than the bracket 13 so that at its opposite ends the liner projects beyond the bracket, as well shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. The side wall flanges 22 and 23 of the liner, and more particularly their tips, afford a protective guard against engagement of the cigarette directly against any exposed edge of the bracket 13 (FIGS. 3 and This avoids liability of damage of the cigarette paper tube by direct engagement with the bracket 13 especially where the bracket is of a thin hard material such as sheet metal.

Although the spacing between the tips of the protective liner side walls 22 and 23 may be greater than the diameter of a conventional cigarette, as shown in FIG. 3, such spacing may be about the same as that diameter or slightly less to afford a slight grip of the inserted cigarette by the tips (FIG. 5). By reason of the arched shape of the liner wall edges only minimal substantially point contact is made with the fairly delicate cigarette paper tube of the cigarette, further to minimize liability of damage.

Any portion of the assembly may be made in contrasting or different, or complementary colors to render it attractive and neat appearing. The disposable liners 18 can be produced inexpensively by mass production methods of manufacture and supplied in quantity of low cost.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A cigarette holder assembly comprising a holder bracket having a generally flat base portion and side Wall portions extending upwardly in overlying relation to the base portion in generally converging alignment in a substantially dovetail cross-section,

said side wall portions being of a height relative to said base portion less than the diameter of a conventional cigarette and with their top edges spaced apart to receive a cigarette therebetween with said edges opposing the cigarette and preventing it from rolling off of the base portion,

a resiliently flexible liner having base and expansile side wall portions substantially complementary to the base and side Wall portions of the bracket but with the expansile side wall portions compressed toward one another from a spread apart relation greater than said bracket side wall portions and slidably longitudinally assembled within a generally dovetail cross-section channel defined between said base portion and said side wall portions of the bracket,

said liner side wall portions resiliently outwardly expansibly thrusting frictionally against the opposing surfaces of the bracket side wall portions to resist longitudinal sliding displacement of the liner from the bracket,

camming action of the expansile liner side wall portions against the bracket side wall portions thrusting the base portion of the liner frictionally against the base portion of the bracket.

2. A holder as defined in claim 1, wherein the base portion of the liner is slightly narrower than the engaged surface of the base portion of the bracket to facilitate assembly insertion of the liner into the channel of the bracket.

3. A holder as defined in claim 1, wherein the top edges of the side wall portions of the bracket and of the liner are of curved form, each of said top edges having a maximum height adjacent the center whereby only point contact is presented to a cigarette between said edges.

4. A cigarette holder comprising a base portion and opposite side wall portions extending upwardly from the base portion convergently toward one another defining a space between top edges of the side wall portions for receiving a conventional cigarette freely therebetween,

said side wall portions extending to a height from the base portion substantially less than the diameter of a conventional cigarette and being of arched edge shape so as to make only point contact with the surface of a cigarette resting on the holder between the side walls.

5. A cigarette holder assembly comprising a holder bracket having an elongated base portion and side wall portions generally convergently related in substantially dovetail overhanging relation to the base portion,

said side wall portions each having a curved upper edge and having a maximum height intermediate the length thereof, and said maximum height portions of said 'upper edges being generally opposed and spaced apart greater than the diameter of a conventional cigarette and being of a height substantially less than the cigarette diameter,

and a liner complementary to the channel defined within the bracket and having converging side wall portions which line the side wall portions of the bracket and afford edges complementary to the curved edges of the bracket side wall portions and which liner edges are engageable with the sides of a cigarette engaged in the holder between said side wall por tions whereby to prevent contact of the cigarette with the edges of said bracket side Wall portions.

6. A cigarette holder comprising a base and sides having opposed arched edges spaced apart to receive a cigarette therebetween and spaced from said base about half the diameter of a conventional cigarette and engageable with only substantially point contact at their portions of nearest mutual adjacency with the sides of a cigarette disposed therebetween over said base.

7. A holder as defined in claim 6, wherein said portions of nearest adjacency are spaced apart greater than said cigarette diameter.

8. A holder as defined in claim 6, wherein said portions of nearest adjacency are spaced slightly less than said cigarette diameter to effect a retaining grip of the sides of the cigarette.

9. For use in a cigarette holder defining an open ended channel of generally dovetail cross-section,

a liner comprising a base portion of a width to be received slidably in said channel,

and flexibly resiliently bendable opposite side wall flange portions on said base portion normally of a spread-apart relationship preventing insertion of the liner into the channel but compressible toward one another into a clearance relationship with respect to the space within said channel to enable insertion of the liner into the channel by endwise sliding assembly movement,

said side wall flange portions resiliently spreading apart after release from the compressed relation for resiliently biased thrusting frictional grip of liner-opposing surfaces within the channel, said base portion and said side wall flange portions comprising a generally flat panel and the flange portions being resiliently hingedly connected to the base portion along longitudinal lines.

10. For use in a cigarette holder defining an open ended channel of generally dovetail cross-section,

a liner comprising a base portion of a width to be received slidably in said channel; and

flexibly resiliently bendable opposite side wall flange portions on said base portion normally of a spreadapar-t relationship preventing insertion of the liner into the channel but compressible toward one another into a clearance relationship with respect to the space Within said channel to enable insertion of the liner into the channel by endwise sliding assembly movement;

said side wall flange portions resiliently spreading apart after release from the compressed relation for resiliently biased thrusting frictional grip of liner-opposing surfaces within the channel, each of said side wall portions being of a maximum width centrally of its length, said maximum width being less than the diameter of a conventional cigarette, and each of said side wall flange portions tapering to less width toward each opposite end thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 110,367 7/1938 Sea. D. 115,921 8/1939 Gemill.

1,840,210 1/1932 Reekers 131257 2,006,811 7 1935 Mersbach 131240 2,016,071 10/1935 Butler. 2,485,228 10/1949 Wood 131235 3,013,566 12/1961 Collins 131-235 FOREIGN PATENTS 513,629 5/ 1932 Germany. 367,570 2/1932 Great Britain.

SAMUEL KOREN, Primary Examiner.

JOSEPH S. REICH, Examiner. 

10. FOR USE IN A CIGARETTE HOLDER DEFINING AN OPEN ENDED CHANNEL OF GENERALLY DOVETAIL CROSS-SECTION, A LINER COMPRISING A BASE PORTION OF A WIDTH TO BE RECEIVED SLIDABLY IN SAID CHANNEL; AND FLEXIBLY RESILIENTLY BENDABLE OPPOSITE SIDE WALL FLANGE PORTIONS ON SAID BASE PORTION NORMALLY OF A SPREADAPART RELATIONSHIP PREVENTING INSERTION OF THE LINER INTO THE CHANNEL BUT COMPRESSIBLE TOWARD ONE ANOTHER INTO A CLEARANCE RELATIONSHIP WITH RESPECT TO THE SPACE WITHIN SAID CHANNEL TO ENABLE INSERTION OF THE LINER INTO THE CHANNEL BY ENDWISE SLIDING ASSEMBLY MOVEMENT; SAID SIDE WALL FLANGE PORTIONS RESILIENTLY SPREADING APART AFTER RELEASE FROM THE COMPRESSED RELATION FOR RESILIENTLY BIASED THRUSTING FRICTIONAL GRIP OF LINER-OP- 